Campbelltown Harlequins have roared back to the top of the Illawarra Rugby first grade competition with a masterclass in grit and clinical execution during Saturday’s final Gala Day format of the season.
By the end of a grueling afternoon of rugby, the Harlequins had dispatched a desperate Wollongong Vikings and dethroned competition leaders Kiama in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash, reports our rugby correspondent ANDREW CHOICE.
The Harlequins opened their account with a grueling 40-minute assignment against the Wollongong Vikings, a side desperately hunting victory to keep their top-four aspirations alive.
Boasting a massive forward pack, the Vikings starved Campbelltown of possession early on, aided by a heavily lopsided penalty count.
However, the Quins’ defensive line refused to break. Channeling pure aggression, Campbelltown’s punishing hits frustrated the Vikings.
When the Harlequins finally secured the ball, their counter attack was nothing short of adventurous.
Spreading the ball with clinical precision, they crossed the line four times to secure a comprehensive 28-0 victory.
With the cobwebs blown off, the stage was set for the main event: a blockbuster 40-minute stanza against competition leaders Kiama.
The highly anticipated clash lived up to the hype from the opening whistle.
Kiama drew first blood, controlling the tempo early to cross in the corner and slot a tough conversion for a 7-0 lead.
The next 15 minutes bore witness to an incredible display of enterprising rugby from both sides.
It was Campbelltown who finally cracked the game open, utilizing their explosive, wide-running back rowers to pierce the defensive line and level the scores at 7-7 going into the break.
The second half belonged to a rejuvenated Harlequins outfit. Playing with great energy and superb continuity, the Quins began to dictate terms.
Their adventurous spirit paid off when they sliced through for another spectacular try, pushing the lead to 14-7.
Just as the Quins looked to be cruising, rugby’s unpredictable nature struck.
After bravely repelling a sustained Kiama onslaught, a misguided Campbelltown kick was charged down.
Against the run of play, Kiama pounced to level the scores at 14-all.
A buoyed Kiama side seized the momentum, pinning the Quins deep in their own territory.
But instead of playing it safe, Campbelltown backed their instincts.
In the play of the match, the Harlequins launched a length of the field counter-attack from inside their own 22-metre line, leaving the defence in their wake to claim a 19-14 lead.
The final five minutes were a masterclass in game management by a rampant Harlequins side, who came within a whisker of crossing for a bonus-point fourth try before the final whistle blew.
The thrilling 19-14 victory sees Campbelltown leapfrog Kiama to officially regain the competition lead.
Earlier in the day, second grade faced their own litmus test against competition leaders University.
In a narrative that has frustratingly defined their season, the Quins looked like the better side for vast stretches of the match but were ultimately undone by basic handling and discipline errors at crucial moments.
While the tough 8-point loss dents their top-four aspirations, the Quins remain mathematically alive in the finals hunt.
The Harlequins Women’s side continued their winning run, getting the points over the Manly Mermaids in a 28-0 shutout.
The bonus-point victory firmly entrenches the ladies in third place. With three consecutive home games on the horizon, a coveted top-two finish and a crucial finals double-chance are well within their grasp.
This Saturday Campbelltown hosts its annual Old Boys weekend and plenty of past legends, loyal supporters, and local families are expected to come through the gate at the Showground.
The action kicks off at 12 noon when the Quins Women take on the Parramatta Two Blues.
This will be followed by the men’s local derby against Camden Rams in both first and second grade.
